Farmers in Barotac Viejo and Banate will soon have an efficient irrigation system which could eventually improve their agricultural production. Engr. Florencio Colorado of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) yesterday (June 8, 2016) briefed Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. about the status of the ongoing construction of the P993 million Barotac Viejo Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP).

ILOILO – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has committed to deploy one of its monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) ships to intensify the enforcement of laws protecting the Visayan Sea.

BFAR Western Visayas Regional Director Remia Aparri made the commitment during the recently-concluded 7th Governor’s Summit on the Alliance of Provinces for the Protection of Visayan Sea hosted by Iloilo Governor Arthur D. Defensor Sr.

Governors Arthur Defensor Sr. of Iloilo and Alfredo Marañon of Negros Occidental want the Visayan Sea declared a marine reserve to further protect and preserve it. The two governors met on June 1, 2016 with Director Remia Aparri of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to discuss possible moves leading to the declaration.

ILOILO – Villages in seven towns placed under state of calamity due to El Niño will be the first to avail of the Jetmatic hand pumps from provincial government, according to Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.

ILOILO – The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, through ActionAid and Balay Mindanaw, will give additional support to the continuing effort of empowering poor farmers to attain food and income security.

Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno, who is instrumental in securing the aid, will lead the distribution of additional 14 rice threshers and hand tractors to select farmer-beneficiaries in a ceremony to be held at 3:00 PM in Casa Real de Iloilo on May 12.

ILOILO - To alleviate hunger exacerbated by the dry spell, Korea Project on International Agriculture (Kopia)-Philippines will help provide solution to the irrigation problem of farmers in a remote rural village in Iloilo province.

The Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has approved a resolution recommending to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan that the entire province of Iloilo be placed under a state of calamity due to the onslaught of El Niño phenomenon. Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, upon the instruction of Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr., convened the PDRRMC for an emergency meeting yesterday (April 14, 2016) to address the adverse effects of El Niño in the province.

Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) chief Ildefonso Toledo (right) shows to Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. and his wife Cosette one of the products on display at the Agri Trade Fair being held at the canopy of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol as part of the 115th Semana sang Iloilo celebration. The Agri Trade Fair which runs until Friday, April 15, features various products from local producers and a gardent show at the Capitol grounds.